Image rights from left: IK Multimedia, Ezviz.
This is aimed at anyone who needs a travel–friendly mic for
occasional use with an iPhone, iPad, or even a Mac. It’s
designed to sit on the edge of a smartphone or tablet and
has a magnetic back so it sits securely. It’s important to
note that the Mic Cast connects using a standard 3.5mm
jack. While not convenient for owners of iPhones or iPads
without a 3.5mm socket, who will need either a Lightning or
USB-C adaptor, it’s a sensible choice. Unlike some iRig
products, there are no converter cables for Lightning or
USB-C sockets, presumably to keep the price down.
Mic Cast 2 does have a headphone jack, though, so you
can monitor the mic input in apps that support it. And it
has two mic capsules inside, one facing each way. A switch
allows you to select one or the other, or both.
The Mic Cast 2 feels a little plasticky, but the magnet
grips well. We tested it with an iPad Pro and a USB-C to
3.5mm jack adaptor and there was a big improvement in
audio quality over the iPad’s own microphone.
THE BOTTOM LINE. There are better mics available, but at
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KENNY HEMPHILLThey say you can’t put a price on home security,
but can you still get peace of mind without
breaking the bank? EZVIZ believes you can, with
its $59.99 C6CN Internet PT Camera.
What do you get for your money? A fairly
impressive feature list: motion tracking, 360–
degree pan and tilt, night vision, plus two–way
audio. Its 90–degree field of view is noticeably less
than the Arlo Q’s 130–degree view, but then the
Arlo Q costs around three times as much.
It lets you quickly view motion–triggered events
or a live view through the cam’s lens, and makes it
simple to change settings on the fly. It has a few
nice touches, too, including Face ID security.
The camera is rather trigger–happy, though.
Point it at the TV and you’ll get saved recordings
every time a new character appears on–screen.
Cars driving past a window or even sudden
changes in the light outside will also set off the
motion sensor; if you’re using a Micro SD card (up
to 128GB), it may fill up sooner than expected.
THE BOTTOM LINE. An affordable camera
that’s a good entry point. ALEX BLAKEiRig Mic Cast 2
A good, portable, and inexpensive
microphone for iPhone and iPad
$49.99 From IK Multimedia, ikmultimedia.com
Features Magnetic grip; front, rear, or omni–directional recordingEZVIZ C6CN Cam
Home security on a budget
$59.99 From Ezviz, ezvizlife.com
Features 360–degree pan and tilt, motion
detection, night vision, Micro SD compatibilityiRIG MIC CAST 2
Improvement in quality over built–in mic
Magnet holds it in position
Headphone pass–through
Feels a little plasticky
GREATEZVIZ C6CN INTERNET PT CAMERA
Great price
Impressive feature list for the price
Good iOS app
Motion sensor is very sensitive
GREATTough testing, trusted ratings
maclife.com FEB 2020 49